fweeter than honey to my mouth," Pfal. cxix.

103.

II. We are to confider what Chrift here promifeth, -upan this rock I will build my church.

As an illuftration of this part of the fubject, it may be useful to notice: 1. What is here meant by the church. 2. By Chrift's intereft in her, my.. church. 3. By his promife concerning her,—I will build my church. And 4. To notice fome things concerning Chrift, as the foundation of the whole fabric: upon this rock.

1. We are to notice what is here meant by the church.

Without entering upon the definition of a church, according to the usual acceptation of that term,or confidering the peculiarities by which churcheson earth are diftinguished from one another ;-it need only be observed, that our Lord, in this pasfage, directs our view to the collective, univerfal, perfect church,-to be gathered out of all the communities which bear that name among men :-the church wherein all the ranfomed world fhall be comprehended,-and from which no ranfomed foul fhall be excepted.)

Though nothing like this will ever be found, except in heaven; -true church members, of every denomination, are viewed, by infinite Wisdom, even at prefent, as feparated from the veffels of wrath with whom, in their church capacity, they are feverally mingled,-and, however unknown to themselves, united together in one church.

The reafons of different churches on earth, are, chiefly, two;-their being feparated, in the providence of God, by diftance of language;-or, where not feparated by distance or language, the imperfection of their members, in holinefs, must be

N 6

confidered

confidered as the fource of all divifions, in fentiment or conduct, formed or propagated among them.

But neither of thefe can ftand in the way of God's diftinguishing his elect church, wherever her members are fcattered, or with whomfoever they are connected; for "The foundation of God' "ftandeth fure, having this feal--The Lord know"eththem that are his," 2 Tim. ii. 19. Accordingly, the church is frequently fpoke of as one: "I fpeak, (fays Paul to the Ephefians) concerning Chrift and the church," Eph. v. 32. And an infinitely greater than Paul is represented as faying, "I will declare thy name unto my "brethren ;-in the midst of the church will I fing praife unto thee," Heb. ii. 12.

2. We are to notice what is here meant by Christ's intereft in her-my church.

This felect, diftinguished community, belongs to Chrift, as Mediator, in different views.

(1.) As all the members of it were made over to him, by his Father's deed of gift: "I have "manifefted (fays he) thy name unto the men "whom thou gaveft me out of the world ;-thine "they were, and thou gaveft them me." And again, "I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them which thou haft given me, for they "" are thine," John xvii. 6, 9.

(2.) As all the members of it were redeemed, by his obedience unto death, from fin and hell.— They were redeemed from fin,-for" he hath ap"peared to put away fin, by the facrifice of him"felf," Heb. ix. 26.-and from hell, for, in the words of the apofle, faints "wait for the Son of "God from heaven, even Jefus which delivered us "from the wrath to come," I Theff. i. 10.

(3.) As all the members of it have been, now are, or shall hereafter be introduced to the Father's

acceptance

acceptance and approbation through him. Accordingly, we are told by one apostle, that, through Chrift, both Jews and Gentiles "have an access by one Spirit unto the Father," Eph. ii. 18. and by another, that "Chrift hath once fuffered for fins, the juft for the unjust that he might bring us to God," I Pet. iii. 18. And,

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(4) As there is a real, though mystical, union between him, and each of them; fuch as there is between the tree and its various parts;." I am "the vine, (fays he to his church)-ye are the "branches," John xv. 5. And fuch an union as fubfifteth between the head and members, in the natural body; for, fpeaking of Chrift, the apoftle fays, "He is the head of the body the church," Col. i. 18.

3. We are to notice what may be meant by our Lord's promife concerning his church. I will build her.

For illuftrating this part of the fubject the following obfervations may be attended unto :

(1.) That, in allufion to literal buildings, our Lord diggeth every member of his elect church from the quarry of a natural state; and, by converfion, renders them capable of making conftituent parts of this fpiritual edifice. This change, in their state and temper, he graciously effects by his word and fpirit :-which, when effected, is diftinguifhed, in fcripture, by terms-the moft fignificant and emphatical-fuch as, being begotten "by the "word of truth," James i. 18. "born of the "water and the fpirit," John iii. 5.-saved “ by "the washing of regeneration and the renewing of "the holy Ghoft," Tit iii. 5.-and being "crea"ted in Chrift Jefus unto good works," Eph. ii. 10.

(2.) That having prepared them, as fit materials,

he

he joins and unites them together, in one holy body or fuperftructure. Tho', originally they confift of many different parts,-having prepared each heir of falvation for the particular place which is affigned him in this building, he makes, of them all, whether Jews or Gentiles, one beautiful whole. In which, when compacted, there fhall be nothing defective, nothing fuperfluous; nothing contrary to the strictest laws of fymmetry and proportion for, "In him all the building fitly framed together, "groweth into an holy temple in the Lord," Eph. ii. 2.1.

(3.) That, having joined the different parts of this building, by making "them drink into one Spirit," he will continue to improve and imbellish the whole, -until it be crowned with the highest perfection -that the several members, apart,or all of them, taken together, fhall be capable of. Accordingly, we are affured, that " Chrift loved the church, and "gave himself for it, that he might fanctify and "cleanfe it with the washing of water by the word "--that he might prefent it to himself a glorious "church, not having fpot or wrinkle or any fuch "thing; but that it should be holy and without " blemish," Eph. v. 25, 26, 27.

4. We are to notice fome things concerning Chrift, as the foundation of the whole fabric:-upon this rock.

Befides what was observed, on the firft head, concerning the defence and provifion which are in Chrift for his church, when she is built;-there are different particulars concerning him, as the foundation of the building, which merit all attention.

(1.) It may be observed, that though Chrift, in his mediatory capacity, is the builder, according to my text;- -as the foundation, upon which the building ftands, he was laid;-for, "Behold, (fays the

Father)

Father) I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone, a "tried ftone, a precious corner stone, a fure foun"dation he that believeth fhall not make haste," If. xxviii. 16.

This evidently points at the Father's choice of him, from everlasting, to the mediatoral office; which choice is clearly expreffed in the language of fcripture," I have faid, mercy fhall be built up "for ever;I have made a covenant with my "chofen,-I have laid help upon one that is migh66 ty,- -I have exalted one chofen out of the people,-I have found out David my fervant," Pfal. lxxxix. 2, 3, 19, 20.

And the Father's laying him for a foundation, points at his fending and qualifying him as Mediator. For," when the fulness of the time was come, (fays our apostle) God fent forth his Son,

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"made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law; that we might receive the adoption of fons," Gal. iv. 4, 5. Again, Chrift himself is represented, by the apostle, as faying to his Father, "A body haft thou prepared me," Heb. x. 5. And again, the Father is reprefented as faying concerning Christ, "with my holy oil have I anointed him," Pfal. lxxxix. 20.

(2) Obferve, that Chrift, the foundation of his church, is a rock, to point out what a ftrong and durable object of truft he is, in his divine nature. "For," according to Ifaiah, "in this Lord Jehovah "there is everlafting ftrength," If. xxvi. 4. And, according to the apoftle, "Jefus Chrift is the fame "yesterday, to-day, and for ever," Heb. xii. 8.

Nay, in his very human nature, our Lord may be called a stone or rock, with manifeft propriety;because, as ftones are raised out of a bed or quarry, replete with that mineral, the man Chrift Jefus,

that